Story: Coastal erosion

Eroding cliffs

Eroding cliffs

These papa (mudstone) cliffs at Ōhiwa Spit, Ōpōtiki, were photographed in April 1976. Attempts to protect them by dumping old car bodies at the foot have proved futile, and a house is teetering towards the surf. Since then, sand has been deposited on the beach, building it out 200 metres to cover the railway irons visible at top right. Erosion and accretion are cyclical: the coastline is always moving.

Using this item

Private collection
Photograph by Keith Smith

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Willem de Lange, 'Coastal erosion - Rocky coasts', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/6333/eroding-cliffs (accessed 28 March 2024)

Story by Willem de Lange, published 12 Jun 2006